Water tank cover



Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

The present invention, though having more general fields of utility,relates particularly to covers for receptacles, and especiallycloset-tank covers.

Closet tanks are manufactured by many and widely-scattered makerswithout any attempt at standardization. To each different style, size orshape of tank, therefore, there corresponds but a single, particular,tank cover. It is an event of extreme rarity that a cover designed forone tank will fit another, being either too long or too short, toonarrow or too wide, too low or too high. Even if a cover of another makeshould accidentally happen to be of exactly the correct dimensions,furthermore, it will usually still be found not to be suitable, becauselacking some interior configuration by means of which it is intended tobe held in position, or for other reasons.

Manufacturers of one tank will not produce covers for another make oftank, as such practice would involve great expenditures in the way ofmachinery and the like, for which there would be no adequate return.They are not, indeed, greatly interested in selling even their own makeof covers, apart from the complete tank unit, cover and all.

When a tank cover becomes broken, or otherwise damaged, it becomesnecessary first, notwithstanding the great delay involved, to try tosearch out the particular manufacturer of the tank unit, which ispractically impossible, as few manufacturers mark their tanks, exceptwith a paper sticker on the outside of the tank which is destroyed wheninstalled. It is only too often the case that, after great lapse oftime, this search proves to be fruitless. The quest sometimes ends in areport that the desired manufacturer is no longer in business. Even inthose cases where a tank cover might otherwise be procurable from theoriginal maker, it happens, over and over again, that the particularcover desired is not obtainable, because it has gone out of style, orfor any of a dozen other explanations. Such reports are not verycomforting to the prospective customer who may, meanwhile, havedeliberately subjected himself to great inconvenience inthe hope that hewould soon be rewarded with a neat-appearing and efiicient tank-coverfixture.

The actual fact, as observed in practice, is, that it is almostimpossible to replace a tank cover of this nature. If one can not pickup an odd cover by chance, which is very slim, one must, in most cases,purchase a completely new tank outfit, or else utilize some makeshift,with the consequent irritation involved. A new tank outfit,

of course, involves great expense. As for makeshifts, they will be foundnot to rest securely on the tank, they will wobble and fall, sometimesoff, and sometimes into, the tank, and be subject 5 to otherinconveniences, besides, in most cases, constituting an eyesore.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a noveltank cover that shall be adapted for ready replacement of other tank 10covers, without being subject to the above-described defects.

A further object is to simplify the construction of tank covers, to theends that they may be manufactured at small expense, though thoroughly15 efficient, in operation.

A further'object is to provide a replaceable cover of general utility.

Another object is to improve upon mechanisms for holding replaceableparts together.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter, and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be explained in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in 25 which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a closet tank, showingthe tank cover of the present invention thereon; Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking upward, in thedirection of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a vertical sec- 30 tion of amodification, taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows, but upon a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2;Fig. 4 is a corresponding, but fragmentary, vertical section of afurther modification; and Fig. 5 35 is a side elevation, partly insection, of a further modification.

The cover 2 of the present invention is shown resting upon the upperwalls 4 of a closet tank 6 that is secured in any desired manner to awall 40 8 of the bathroom, either directly, or indirectly to thebathroom floor, in which event the tank 6 may be spaced from the wall 8.In the former case, the rear wall 9 of the tank will be in directcontact with the wall 8, as illustrated in Fig. 4; 45 in the lattercase, it will be separated therefrom, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Theinner or under face ID of the cover 2 is provided with a yieldingplunger I! that binds yieldingly against an adjacent inner wall [4 ofthe tank, that is dis- 0 posed opposite to the wall 9. The yielding,binding action is produced by a spring l6, preferably in coil form, theleft-hand end of which is mounted in a bore I5 in a support ll, securedto the under face of the cover 2 by screws l9, and to the right-hand endof which the plunger 12 is connected. The spring l6, by forcing theplunger l2 against the inner wall 14 of the tank 6, drives the oppositeside I8 of the cover 2 yieldingly in the opposite direction. toward theleft, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. The side I8 of the cover 2 may thus beforced into engagement with the bathroom wall 8, as illustrated in Fig.4. If the wall 8 is too far distant, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,the left-hand edge or shoulder 20 of the support I! will be forced intoengagement with the wall 9. By reason of the yielding pressure thusexerted against either the wall 8 or the wall 9, on one side, andagainst the inner wall M of the tank, on the other side, the cover 2 isheld yieldingly in position on the tank 6. This yielding, holding actionis sufficient to secure the cover tightly in place, with the edge 22 ofthe cover, opposite to the side 18, projecting over the tank 6. Thecover may easily be removed from the tank, in opposition to theyielding, binding action of the plunger l2, merely by a lifting force onthe cover 2.

A projection 24, extending crosswise through the bore 15, is disposedbetween the turns or coils of the spring I6, whereby rotative movementof the spring l6 relative to the cover will effect longitudinaladjustment of the spring It. The plunger I2 is thus rendered adjustableupon the cover relative to the shoulder 20 to vary the binding action ofthe plunger I2, to adapt the device for different tanks, of differentwidth, or differently positioned relative to the bathroom wall 8.

The plunger 12 is provided with a reduced stem 25 that is mounted in oneend of aplunger tube 26. The right-hand end of the spring 5 is mountedin the other end of the tube 26. The rubber of the stem 25 will hold theplunger [2 yieldingly, but firmly, in position in the righthand end ofthe tube 26. The tube 26 is provided with an interior projection 28disposed between turns of the spring, near the right-hand end of thespring. Relative rotative movement of the spring l6 and the tube 26 willthus effect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring in the tube,thus varying the position of the plunger l2 upon the under side of thecover 2 and, therefore, its binding action against the wall Id.

The coils of the spring H5 at its ends 30 may be bent reversely orotherwise fashioned so as to close the spring at its ends and present abarrier against further adjustment with respect to the projections 24and 28. The removal of the spring Hi from the bore I5 and separation ofthe spring l6 and the tube 26 are thus prevented. After the right-handend 30 of the spring l6 has thus been reversely bent or otherwisetreated, the stem 25 may be cemented in place in the tube 26, asillustrated at 32. The plunger I2, at the end of the stem 25, may be inthe form of a rubber button or in the-form of a suction cup. Theprojection 24 may be in the form of a screw extending into the cover 2,as illustrated in Fig. 3, in which event, one of the screws l9 may beomitted, as shown in Fig. 4.

A very effective substitute cover is thus provided adaptable, because ofthe double adjustment, at both ends of the spring [6, for use with alarge variety of sizes, shapes and makes of tanks 6, that is held inposition without wobbling, and so rigidly that it may serve as a shelfas well as a cover, and that is ornamental as well as useful, besidesbeing exceedingly inexpensive. If the cover is to be used as a shelf, itmay, as illustrated in Fig. 3, be provided with pegs 34, connected by awire or other enclosure 36, to retain'articles supported thereon. Thecover 2 may, furthermore, form the bottom of a box having outer walls 38provided, if desired, with intermediately positioned walls 40 toseparate compartments 42 of the box, as is shown in Fig. 5.

Other modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and allsuch are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially verticalwalls one of which is adapted to be secured to a building wall, one sideof the cover being adapted to engage against the said building wall, thecover being provided with an inner. substantially fiat, face thatadapted to rest in substantially horizontal pouttion on the saidvertical walls to close the flush tank, a support of less width than thewidth of the tank being secured to said inner face and. having a borethat is horizontally disposed wh n the cover rests on the said verticalwalls, a coiled spring one end of which is horizontally dlSpOFwl in thebore, a plunger connected with the otlm end of the spring and extendinghorizontally u:- yond the support, the plunger being adapted by thespring to bind yieldingly against an inner wall of the flush tank thatis disposed opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action ofthe sprin will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldinglyagainst said building wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly inhorizontal position on the fiush tank, the-cover being adapted to beremoved. from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding bindingaction of the spring, and means for adjusting the spring to vary thebinding action of the plunger.

2. A cover for a tank one wall of which is secured to a wall, one sideof the cover being adapted to engage against the said second-named wall,the cover being provided with an inner, substantially fiat, face havinga plunger, a coil sprin for forcing the plunger yieldingly against aninner wall of the tank disposed opposite to said one wall, whereby theyielding action of the spring will cause the said side of the cover toengage yieldingly against said second-named wall in order to hold thecover yieldingly on the tank, the cover being adapted to be removed fromthe tank in opposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger,said inner face of the cover having a projection disposed between theturns of the spring, whereby rotative movement of the spring relative tothe cover will effect longitudinal adjustment of the spring to vary thebinding action of the plunger.

3. A cover for a tank one wall of which is secured to a wall, one sideof the cover being adapted to engage against said second-named wall, thecover being provided with an inner, substantially flat face having acoil spring, a plunger tube in which the coil springis mounted andhaving an interior projection disposed between turns of the spring,whereby relative rotative movement of the spring and the tube willeffect relative longitudinal adjustment of the spring in the tube, theplunger tube being adapted to be forced by the spring into yieldingengagement with an inner e wall of the tank opposite to said one wall,whereby the yielding action of the spring will cause the said side ofthe cover to engage yieldingly against said second-named wall in orderto hold the cover yieldingly on the receptacle, the cover being filladapted to be removed from the receptacle in opposition to the yieldingbinding action of the plunger.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a coil spring, and atube in which the coil spring is mounted and having an interiorprojection disposed between turns of the spring, whereby relativerotative movement of the spring and the tube will eifect relativelongitudinal adjustment of the spring and the tube.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having aprojection, and a coil spring supported by the support with theprojection disposed between turns of the spring, whereby relativerotative movement of the spring will efiect longitudinal adjustment ofthe spring relative to the support.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising a support having abore provided with a projection, a coil spring one end of which ismounted in the bore with the projection disposed between turns of thespring near one end of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement ofthe spring will effect longitudinal adjustment of the spring relative tothe support, a tube in which the other end of the spring is disposed andhaving an interior projection disposed between turns of the spring nearsaid other end of the spring, whereby relative rotative movement of thespring and the tube will effect relative longitudinal adjustment of thespring and the tube, and a plunger carried by the tube.

7. A tank cover provided with an inner, substantially flat, face havinga shoulder and a plunger, a coil spring for forcing the plungeryieldingly against an inner wall of the tank in order to force theshoulder toward an oppositely disposed wall, thus to hold the coveryieldingly on the tank, said inner face of the cover having a projectiondisposed between the turns of the spring whereby rotative movement ofthe spring relative to the cover will efiect longitudinal adjustment ofthe spring to vary the binding action of the plunger, and the plungerbeing provided with a projection disposed between the turns of thespring, whereby rotative movement of the spring will effect longitudinaladjustment of the plunger.

8. A tank cover having a plunger, a coil spring for forcing the plungeryieldingly against an inner wall of the tank, whereby the yieldingaction of the spring will cause the said side of the cover to engageyieldingly against said wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly onthe tank, the cover being adapted to be removed from the tank inopposition to the yielding binding action of the plunger, means engagingwith the coils of the spring for adjusting the spring, and means forpreventing separation of the spring and the engaging means.

9. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantially verticalwalls, the cover being adapted to rest in substantially horizontalposition on the said walls to close the flush tank, a support of lesswidth than the width of the tank secured to the inner face of the coverand having a bore that is horizontally disposed when the cover rests onthe said vertical walls, a coiled spring one end of which ishorizontally disposed in the bore, a plunger connected with the otherend of the spring and extending horizontally beyond the support, theplunger being adapted by the spring to bind yieldingly against anadjacent, inner wall of the flush tank in order to hold the coveryieldingly in position on the flush tank, the cover being adapted to beremoved from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding binding actionof the plunger.

10. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantiallyvertical walls one of which is adapted to be secured to a building wall,one side of the cover being adapted to engage against said buildingwall, the cover being provided with an inner, substantially flat, facethat is adapted to rest in substantially horizontal position on the saidvertical walls to close the flush tank, a support of less width than thewidth of the tank being secured to said inner face and having a borethat is horizontally disposed when the cover rests on the said verticalwalls, a coiled spring one end of which is horizontally disposed in thebore, a plunger connected with the other end of the spring and extendinghorizontally beyond the support, the plunger being adapted by the springto bind yieldingly against an inner wall of the flush tank that isdisposed opposite to said one wall, whereby the yielding action of thespring will cause the said side of the cover to engage yieldinglyagainst said building wall in order to hold the cover yieldingly inhorizontal position on the flush tank, the cover being adapted to beremoved from the flush tank in opposition to the yielding binding actionof the spring.

11. A cover for a flush tank that is provided with substantiallyvertical walls, the cover being adapted to rest in substantiallyhorizontal position on the said walls to close the flush tank, the innerface of the cover having a shoulder and a plunger that is horizontallydisposed when the cover rests on the said vertical walls, a coil springfor forcing the plunger yieldingly against an inner wall of the tank inorder to force the shoulder against an oppositely disposed .wall,

thus to hold the cover yieldingly on the tank, the

cover being adapted to be removed from the tank

